Are you about to start your online college career? Did you know that many online college programs offer either free or deeply discounted laptops to their students? And others provide free iPads to those enrolled in their programs!

It goes without saying that you will need to have a reliable computing device throughout your years of study so that you can access lectures, learning management systems, word processing software, and more. Online colleges have become quite savvy about this and have started to create lists of “minimum requirements” that students’ computers must have in order for them to be involved in their programs. (*See below for an example). In addition, many of these Web-based degree programs have started to offer to send their new students a device that matches these computing requirements to make sure that the technology barrier is not one that prevents them from completing their education.

What’s the Catch?

Like every promise of a “free lunch”, or in this case, a “free laptop”, there are some strings and stipulations attached. The bottom line is that you can’t just sign up with an online program for a few weeks to score a free laptop. You must remain in the program, and graduate from it in order to be granted full ownership of your laptop with most schools. And while most online colleges with student laptop programs allow their alums to keep their laptops upon graduation, other schools such as Wake Forest University ask for them to be returned. One good way to think about this is that you will have a brand new laptop to use while you’re enrolled in school, after which time the life of the laptop will probably be nearing its end and you would want to purchase a new one anyway.

Is it Completely Free?

Yes. And maybe not. Be sure to read the fine print and consider all the factors involved. If the program promises a free laptop, then yes, you will receive it for free, however many schools that offer laptop programs are actually only offering steep discounts for students to purchase devices through their programs. And others do offer free laptops, but charge more in tuition to make up for it, so be sure to do a final comparison of the total costs involved before choosing.

Which Online Schools Are Offering Free Laptops?

There are many online colleges that are offering new students the opportunity for a free or low cost laptop. But as previously mentioned, there may be certain caveats involved. Here’s a segmented list of programs with laptop programs and their respective conditions for obtaining the devices.

Note: Even if your online college is not listed here, most colleges and universities do offer some sort of discount for students to purchase both hardware and software that they will need during their course of study. Search their website for “computers” or “laptops”, or contact their student services department to find out if you have discounts available.

The emerging trend seems to be to offer new/incoming students an iPad, rather than a laptop at many online universities, and also universities which have online programs as well as on-campus ones. Here’s the current list of colleges offering iPads to students:

If your online school of choice does not currently offer a free laptop or iPad initiative, fear not. There are many low cost options out there for a quality back-to-school device. Before you start shopping, however, it’s recommended that you locate your school’s minimum computing requirements (*see example below) so that you’re sure to purchase a machine that meets them.

The Best Laptops for College Students – This article by PCMag offers a quickly scannable matrix of 10 recommended laptops that would be excellent for student use featuring a list of specs, price, and review information.

Making the Choice: Laptops vs. Tablets

If you’re wondering whether to spend your back-to-school money on a laptop purchase, or go with the ultra-mobile tablet device instead, there’s a lot to consider. Not only will you need too consider the minimum requirements of your school, but also, you’ll want to think about what type of program you’ll be joining. If you’ll be studying any sort of graphic design, film making, or any course of study that would necessitate the creation of videos or major image creation/editing, you would want to go the way of the laptop. If you’ll be using this device mainly for accessing your files on the go, taking notes in class, and light schoolwork, you may choose the lighter, more mobile tablet. But for those who are still undecided and want to gain a clear picture of all of the pros and cons, here are several resources that discuss the issue:

After 7+ wonderful years of blogging for the OEDb, it’s time to say goodbye to iLibrarian. Although this blog will no longer be updated, I will still be blogging! Please follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ellyssa and on my blog here for updates about my new ventures!!! http://ellyssakroski.com/blog

It’s been an absolute pleasure blogging at iLibrarian, thank you to all of my readers for your loyal support and attention all these years. Farewell!

Since the passing of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005, federal aid has been made available to students enrolled in accredited online degree programs. Before the act, online education was widely considered a suspect way to earn a degree, which meant online-enrolled students were denied access to major sources of aid. But today these programs have earned the recognition and financial support that all legitimate post-secondary operations are entitled to.

Yet, in spite of this win, misinformation about online education continues to circulate. And as you might expect, prospective students who equate online programs with no financial aid rule out online education entirely.

In this brief report, we will first explain why misunderstandings about financial aid and online education remain. From there, we’ll show you, the prospective student, how to do your due diligence, verifying that all major forms of aid are offered at the program of your choice.

Qualifying for Aid

Where does the confusion surrounding online aid come from? The culprits most educators and admissions officers point to first are certain types of for-profit online schools dubbed “diploma mills.” These substandard schools preyed on misinformed students eager to earn their degrees quickly and cheaply. The mills were so prevalent that they became synonymous with online education as a whole, a stigma that’s proven hard to shake.

Almost all diploma mills lacked (and still lack) accreditation ? the stamp of approval from an independent and reputable educational board. Schools with no academic oversight awarded students degrees that, in the eyes of the academic community and most employers, were effectively worthless. This was motivation enough for the federal government to severely restrict online students’ access to aid; the fear being that students would be overcharged for inadequate degrees and then left with a mountain of debt.

But as more and more legitimate schools launched great online programs, there was enough aboveboard activity online for the federal government to feel it could lift aid restrictions. And the clearest way for the government to ensure that only deserving schools received aid? Accreditation.

The basic idea behind accreditation is that the U.S. Department of Education turns to private accrediting agencies it has recognized as “reliable authorities [on] the quality of education or training provided by the institutions of higher education” to verify the academic merits of a given school and its programs. Once these agencies have awarded schools an accreditation title, they are added to the Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. Inclusion on this database effectively means the school and its students will qualify to apply for federal aid, again, with online programs included.

Financial Aid Options for Online Students

Once you’ve used the accreditation database to confirm that your school and program are in fact accredited by a recognized agency, you need to take a step back and actually consider all of the aid options to choose from. First, we provide a brief explanation of the general sources responsible for distributing aid to students, followed by a list of the most common types of aid, which, for the most part, can be obtained from any of the aforementioned sources:

Sources of Financial Aid

Federal Aid

As the name states, this covers aid from the federal government and is the most common source of aid sought by students. All information related to federal aid is covered on the government’s site for students: Studentaid.ed.gov. The major forms of aid offered by the government are grants, loans and work-study. Aid is determined based on the information students provide in their FAFSA application, which is required by virtually all U.S. postsecondary programs to determine a student’s overall aid eligibility.

State-Sponsored Aid

State governments also offer their own sources of financial support to students; for that matter, the same could be said for county, city and municipal governments. Largely coming in the form of merit-based scholarships and grants, state-based aid is usually limited to students with resident status in a given state. That being said, eligibility truly varies state to state, so be sure to review all stipulations in your state of residence, as well as the state where you attend school, if the two should differ.

College-Sponsored Aid

Schools themselves offer their share of aid resources, typically in the form of scholarships, grants, fellowships and work study. The number of such options at your school may very well depend on the school’s private or public status ? some public schools will have aid that overlaps with state-sponsored aid. Wealthy private schools, while typically the most expensive places to earn a college degree, tend to have the largest coffers to use in support of their students in need. Determining your aid options at the school level is all a matter of research; students would do well to speak to a school’s financial aid office early and often to grasp everything offered.

Private Aid

After exhausting financial support from the three categories above, you may find you still cannot afford your degree. The first option to consider is private organizations that award merit- and need-based scholarships and grants. While these organizations will have their own distinct eligibility requirements, there are a staggering amount of such options available. If you find you are still on the hook, private loans may become the only realistic way to pay for your education. The catch is that the interest rates and terms provided by lenders tend to be much more aggressive and unforgiving than those provided by the federal government. To many, this makes private loans a last resort. Despite that opinion, such loans have become a fixture of federal aid, financing millions of students and graduates education.

With the sources out of the way, let’s briefly identify the types of aid:

Grants

Grants are non-refundable aid awarded by an organization. They typically require a greater degree of accountability on the part of recipient than, say, scholarships. Grants often require students to work in some capacity within a certain program and then formally report to the organization distributing the grant.

Fellowships

Fellowships refer to stipends or endowments that support students working within a particular field or in support of a certain research effort, often in support of a professor. Fellowships are almost exclusively found at the graduate level.

Loans

The most common source of aid, loans refer to borrowed sums that must be paid back, with interest, in accordance with the terms of a legal agreement between the lender and borrower.

Scholarships

Scholarships are non-refundable sources of aid awarded by organizations for any number of reasons, such as financial need, academic achievement or athletic ability. Scholarships tend to have basic requirements students must maintain, such as GPA, to remain qualified for their funds.

Work Study

Work study refers to an organization, most commonly the federal government, arranging part-time employment opportunities for students, which, when filled, guarantee a certain level of wage, supporting students throughout the term of their program. Work-study programs tend to only be available for students on-campus for some portion of their program.

Now What?

Now that the basics of financial aid for you, the online student, have been established, we’ll quickly explain three big steps to financial aid for online students.

Complete Your FAFSA – Your FAFSA is the ultimate determiner of much of the aid that will be available to you throughout the tenure of your education. It is essentially mandatory for any student interested in aid. Pay close attention to the FAFSA site and thoroughly fill out your application. The earlier you get your application in, the more time you will have to work out your entire financial aid package.

Compare Your Costs to Your Available Aid – Once you’ve received the final word from the federal government and any other grants, scholarships and loan applications you’ve applied for, you should have a definite understanding of how much aid you are to receive versus how much your school is going to cost you per semester. If those numbers differ, you need to explore your private aid options. Remember to give yourself as much time as possible to figure out total incoming aid. The more time, the easier it will be to prepare applications for additional grants and loans, which can alleviate your dependency on hefty private loans.

Reach Out to Your Financial Aid Office – This step should occur parallel to all researching, applying and accepting of aid you do. A school’s financial aid officers are a crucial resource, providing you with the frankness and direction you need to know what you are really getting into. They are well versed in the sources of aid out there that are most obtainable for a student like you. Keep in close contact with such people to ensure you are doing everything you can in a timely and effective fashion. With the help of such financial aid officers, the end result will likely be an excellent and entirely manageable aid package.

Over the past month two of my Facebook friends have had their accounts hacked (that I know of). In both of these cases the hacker chose to go through the person’s Facebook emails to read all of their messages and then use that information to message their friends – posing as them. I was one of those people that each hacker messaged. It was a sobering experience to realize that someone could potentially have access to all of your personal discussions that you’ve had with family and friends, going back for years!

After this experience I decided that I wanted to delete all of my past Facebook messages so that if I was ever hacked, at least I could limit what they would have access to. But I discovered that this wasn’t as easy as you would think as there is no global “Delete All” option for Facebook messages and conversations. Instead, you must click into each conversation, click on the “Actions” button, and choose “Delete Conversation”. To do this for the hundreds of conversations that I’ve had on Facebook over the past several years would have been far too time-consuming. However, I did find an amazing plug-in for the Chrome browser called Facebook – Delete All Messages that did the trick.

The process is simple. Open up your Chrome browser and navigate to the plugin. Click “Add to Chrome” in order to download/install the plugin. It currently has over 82,000 users and I found it to be virus/bug-free as of two weeks ago, so I can highly recommend it.

Once it’s installed, simply sign into Facebook. Open up the full messages window and click on the plugin icon that sits on the far right of the address bar.

Then click “Launch”. It will delete all the messages on that entire page. If you have a lot of old messages you may need to scroll down and click Launch a few times until they’re all gone.

But within a few minutes you should be rid of all your old conversations, and they will not reappear when the person messages you again. You’ll have a clean slate!

Trying to keep up with the latest in EdTech trends? Discover all the latest news happening in EdTech with this roundup post. And if you’re still getting up to speed in this area, also check out the post: 7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2014.

Did you know that there are many different types of makerspaces, each with their own set of unique characteristics? This was news to me until recently so I thought I’d pass along my research on what I found were the important distinctions as well as important links.

FabLabs

Amsterdam Fab Lab at The Waag Society

A FabLab is a type of makerspace that was created by the Center for Bits and Atoms headed by Prof. Dr. Neil Gershenfeld at MIT. It began as an outreach project to provide access to modern means for invention such as electronics equipment, laser cutters, routers and milling machines in order to enable makers to create nearly anything. There are currently over 200 FabLabs in over 30 countries around the world.

Hackerspaces

NYC Resistor Hackerspace

Also called a hacklab or hackspace, hackerspaces are places where computer programmers, makers, DIY’ers and artists converge to collaborate and socialize. Hackerspaces have been around since 1995 with the founding of c-base in Berlin which according to Wikipedia is one of the first independent, stand-alone hackerspaces in the world, not affiliated with a school, university, or company. Hackerspaces were originally started by computer hackers however they have since expanded to encompass many other activities such as creating physical objects, conducting instructional workshops, etc. There are currently over 1,800 hackerspaces in over 20 countries around the world.

TechShops

TechShop

TechShops are a chain of for-profit spaces which offer public access to industrial tools and equipment such as welding equipment, sewing machines, woodworking equipment, 3D printers, and more to build their own projects. They charge a membership fee beginning a $125/month. They currently have 8 shops in the US with their flagship shop in San Francisco and future locations in Dublin and Munich.

Makerspaces

Milwaukee Makerspace

Makerspaces are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. The usually have 3D printers as well as electronic equipment available, some also have metalworking, woodworking, and traditional arts and crafts equipment available. They are used by schools and libraries to provide valuable skills in math and engineering to children and patrons of all ages.

September was back-to-school and back to writing for many librarians. Blogs, journals, and news outlets were jam-packed with library and information stories ranging from articles about makerspaces, digital collections, 3D printing, and free technology for libraries as well as some offbeat topics such as medieval selfies and snapchats from Harry Potter! Check out these 50 posts, infographics, and articles to get you caught up on what’s happening in the LIS world.

The flipped classroom is a teaching model in which the traditional lecture and homework assignments are reversed. Students watch video lectures before class and the class session is made up of exercises, discussions, and problem solving with students receiving personalized attention from the professor. This model has grown in popularity over the past several years

Twitter Hashtags

Twitter is a great place to follow along or participate in the discussion of the flipped classroom. Here are some of the most recognized and used hashtags to denote flipped classroom and flipped learning discussions:

Wearable technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past few years and has finally reached the consumer. Although not yet at the tipping point with the mainstream user, early adopters and the tech-savvy are certainly taking advantage of these smart devices. iLibrarian’s readers are always on the cutting-edge of new tech developments, so let’s find out which of these new devices you’ll be embracing over the next year or two?

A successful librarian, technologist, and innovator with over a decade in the library field and nearly 20 years of Web experience along with a deep understanding of the current landscape of libraries, social media, mobile, and emerging technologies. I am the Director of Information Technology at The New York Law Institute as well as an award-winning editor and author of 35 books including Law Librarianship in the Digital Age for which I won the AALL’s 2014 Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award. I’m an adjunct faculty member at Pratt Institute, and an international conference speaker. I speak at several conferences a year, mainly about new tech trends, digital strategy, and libraries.

* Project Management: Manage outsourced IT services as well as third-party developers on projects such as: o Development of a “seamless catalog module” offering integration between multiple library OPACs. o Development of SharePoint Web Parts and HTML widgets. o Development of scripts for leading ERM systems including OneLog, ResearchMonitor, and Lookup Precision. o Development of a custom federated search application combining disparate subscription services into one search results interface. o Network upgrade/re-wiring of physical library space to expand our network.

* Technology Initiatives: o Redesigned the library website. New website site structure based on analysis of site analytics, heuristic evaluation, online and in-person usability studies, and departmental requirements. o Implemented a successful eBooks initiative offering member access to 87,000 eBooks. o Introduced many free and low-cost alternatives to existing technology, saving thousands of dollars annually, as well as implemented new applications: o Established an Electronic Resources Management (ERM) system in the library using OSS. o Created a library statistics database with reporting functionality. o Established an intranet for library staff.

* Training: Train staff and educate members on how to use our software and services including training videos, instructional webinars, and technical documentation.

Aug
2012 - Present

Consulting Editor / Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

* Project Management: Responsible for concept, planning, author acquisition, project management, and developmental editing, of technology books and book series

* Management: Manage between 14-35 high profile authors through all aspects of the book writing and publishing process from proposal to editorial to promotion.

* The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) awarded Law Librarianship in the Digital Age the 2014 Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award.

Jan
2008 - Present

Visiting Assistant Professor / Pratt Institute

• Teach Web technology and Basic Reference courses to graduate students enrolled in Library and Information Science program..• Create private social networks for students to participate in using Drupal technology as well as maintain class websites in course management programs.• Filmed and edited video lectures using green-screen technique as well as instructional screencasts.

Aug
2007 -
Nov
2014

Blogger/Marketer / OEDB

• Author a daily blog with over 100,000 unique visitors per month. Topics include mobile and emerging technologies as they pertain to the library field. • Audience development through multi-channel marketing such as social media, traffic analysis, and networking, etc. • Track conversations and sentiment to ensure the iLibrarian brand has a positive presence wherever people are having conversations.

Aug
2008 -
May
2013

Consulting Series Editor of The Tech Set I & II / Neal Schuman Publishers/American Library Association

* Management: Manage 10-12 high profile authors through all aspects of the book writing and publishing process from proposal to editorial to promotion.

* The American Library Association (ALA) awarded The Tech Set the 2011 Greenwood Publishing Group Award for the Best Book in Library Literature.

Oct
2009 -
Nov
2011

Emerging Technologies & Web Services Librarian / Barnard College

* Technology Initiatives: Responsible for the application and use of new and emerging technologies both internally and to the public services function.o Led the Library through a Web site redesign and migration to a Drupal content management system, combining multiple sites into one unified Web presence.o Developed taxonomies, menus, wireframes, & site structures based on analysis of site analytics, usability studies, and departmental requirements. o Collaborated with Columbia University Libraries to introduce a new text reference service.o Established a social media presence across multiple channels to enhance visibility and connect with the community.o Developed strategic plans for social media, and other technology initiatives as well as analytics-based assessment.o Created a Reference Statistics database collect more information about reference interactions.o Created a strategy for a library-wide digitization initiative

* Bibliographic Instruction and Staff Training:o Designed and delivered bibliographic instruction curriculum and research guides for multiple literature and History seminars as well as technology topics.o Responsible for staff technology training..o Created a series of 10 instructional webcasts & a library video tour.

* Management: Head of the Barnard Library Internship Program which included recruiting, scheduling, training, mentoring, and managing 8-10 graduate LIS interns.

* Public Services: Provided reference services for the library’s 300,000 volume collection, 1,700+ electronic databases, and 10 million volume university-wide library collection including one-on-one research consultations, phone, email, IM, and text reference. Served on Columbia University’s Reference Coordinating Committee (RCC). Worked with faculty and students as a part of our Personal Librarians program.

* Collection Development: Responsible for building and maintaining print monograph and serial collections for the many Humanities subject areas.

Jun
2009 -
Jun
2010

Columnist / Reed Business

Wrote a monthly column about emerging tech and academic libraries titled “Stacking the Tech” for Library Journal’s Academic Newswire.

Nov
2007 -
2010

Lecturer / San Jose State University

• Teach Web technology, and Open Source courses to graduate students enrolled in Library and Information Science programs in an online learning environment.• Create private social networks for students to participate in using Drupal technology as well as maintain class websites in course management programs.• Filmed and edited video lectures using green-screen technique as well as instructional screencasts.• Created and helped students publish a peer-reviewed open-access journal using OJS.• Served on the Technology Program Advisory Committee.

Sept
2007 -
2010

Adjunct Faculty / Long Island University

• Teach Web technology courses to graduate students enrolled in Library and Information Science program..• Create private social networks for students to participate in using Drupal technology as well as maintain class websites in course management programs.• Filmed and edited video lectures using green-screen technique as well as instructional screencasts.

Mar
2005 -
Oct
2009

Information Consultant / Ellyssa Kroski

• Offered services in social media marketing, information architecture, usability testing, technology training, content development, and strategic assessment of Web technologies for clients such as The College Board, New York Observer, and PolitickerNJ.• Provided writing and editing services, custom workshops and technology talks, and professional courses.

* Technology Initiatives:o Created an interactive map for the Library’s reference collection which allowed patrons to click on virtual stacks to view contents as well as search for items.o Creating and updated library web pages using the Web CMS.o Created an internal blog for the Reference department staff.o Created a Butler Stacks Guide podcast.o Founded a monthly Emerging Tech Brown Bag series.